PSYCHOL 1001 - Psychology IB

North Terrace Campus - Semester 2 - 2025

This course, together with PSYCHOL 1000, provides an introduction to the basic concepts and core topics within contemporary psychology. The two courses may be taken singly or in combination. Core topics covered over the year will include the development of the individual over the lifespan; the study of the person in a social context; differences between people with respect to their intelligence and personality; issues related to individual adjustment and maladjustment; the biological bases of behaviour; the interpretation by the brain of sensory signals from the external environment; the mechanisms underlying learning; the encoding, storage and retrieval of information; the nature of motivation and emotion; culture and cross-cultural psychology. The courses will also provide an introduction to the methodological approaches employed by psychologists to study these topics. Major findings to emerge from psychological research will be presented, and the practical significance of such work will be discussed. Practical work will address the conventions of psychological report-writing and the ethical principles underlying psychological research and practice. Pre-recorded lectures will be posted online via MyUni and face-to-face teaching will take the form of interactive lectures and workshops.

  • General Course Information
    Course Details
    Course Code PSYCHOL 1001
    Course Psychology IB
    Coordinating Unit Psychology
    Term Semester 2
    Level Undergraduate
    Location/s North Terrace Campus
    Units 3
    Contact Up to 1 hour per week
    Available for Study Abroad and Exchange Y
    Incompatible PSYCHOL 1100
    Assessment Examination 50%, Written Research Assignment 30%, Research Participation/Alternative 5%, Reflective Writing & Tutorial Engagement 15%
    Course Staff

    Course Coordinator: Dr Rachel Stephens

    School of Psychology Office: Ph +61 8313 5693;  psychologyoffice@adelaide.edu.au
    Course Timetable

    The full timetable of all activities for this course can be accessed from Course Planner.

  • Learning Outcomes
    Course Learning Outcomes

    1 Demonstrate an introductory knowledge of selected areas of psychological enquiry
    2 Demonstrate an understanding of how psychology is applied to real-life problems
    3 Critically evaluate knowledge claims regarding psychological theory
    4 Recognize a range of different research methodologies within the discipline of Psychology
    5 Present written reports that follow the basic conventions of written communication within the discipline of Psychology
    6 Demonstrate elementary skills in the interpretation of psychological data
    University Graduate Attributes

    This course will provide students with an opportunity to develop the Graduate Attribute(s) specified below:

    University Graduate Attribute Course Learning Outcome(s)

    Attribute 1: Deep discipline knowledge and intellectual breadth

    Graduates have comprehensive knowledge and understanding of their subject area, the ability to engage with different traditions of thought, and the ability to apply their knowledge in practice including in multi-disciplinary or multi-professional contexts.

    1, 2, 4

    Attribute 2: Creative and critical thinking, and problem solving

    Graduates are effective problems-solvers, able to apply critical, creative and evidence-based thinking to conceive innovative responses to future challenges.

    2, 3, 4, 6

    Attribute 3: Teamwork and communication skills

    Graduates convey ideas and information effectively to a range of audiences for a variety of purposes and contribute in a positive and collaborative manner to achieving common goals.

    5

    Attribute 4: Professionalism and leadership readiness

    Graduates engage in professional behaviour and have the potential to be entrepreneurial and take leadership roles in their chosen occupations or careers and communities.

    2, 5

    Attribute 5: Intercultural and ethical competency

    Graduates are responsible and effective global citizens whose personal values and practices are consistent with their roles as responsible members of society.

    1, 2

    Attribute 6: Australian Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander cultural competency

    Graduates have an understanding of, and respect for, Australian Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander values, culture and knowledge.

    .

    Attribute 7: Digital capabilities

    Graduates are well prepared for living, learning and working in a digital society.

    5

    Attribute 8: Self-awareness and emotional intelligence

    Graduates are self-aware and reflective; they are flexible and resilient and have the capacity to accept and give constructive feedback; they act with integrity and take responsibility for their actions.

    1
  • Learning Resources
    Required Resources
    Textbook: Passer, M. W. & Smith, R. E. (2019). Psychology – The Science of Mind and Behaviour (Australian Edition). McGraw-Hill: North Ryde, NSW.

    This book can be purchased by students, and an online version is available through the university library.

    Earlier editions of the Passer & Smith text will also be suitable for the courses Psychology 1A and 1B.


    For additional information regarding required resources please refer to the relevant Undergraduate Program Handbook on MyUni.
    Recommended Resources
    Passer & Smith - Connect Digital Resource
    The Passer & Smith textbook publisher offers an additional digital resource called "Connect", which gives access to the LearnSmart learning tool. You will find this useful for completing the courses Psychology 1A and 1B.

    Barr Smith Library – Psychology on the Web

    The Library is a major resource centre for students. The Research Librarian for Psychology, Maureen Bell, provides some useful information through the Internet at http://libguides.adelaide.edu.au/psychology. The website contains a list of databases, links to tutorials and help with searching methods.

    For additional information regarding recommended resources please refer to the relevant Undergraduate Program Handbook on MyUni.
    Online Learning
    In this course you will participate in online learning environments via MyUni - https://auth.adelaide.edu.au/login.

    In your online learning you will read, listen to a number of presentations, be expected to participate in online discussions via discussion boards, and complete and submit assessments online.This course may also use MyUni for one or more of the following:
    •    Communication with students via Announcements and Discussion Board
    •    Submission of summative assessment
    •    Access to lecture recordings
    •    Access to tutorial materials
    •    Additional readings
    •    Self-directed learning activities
    •    Exam preparation materials

    Link to MyUni: https://myuni.adelaide.edu.au/


  • Learning & Teaching Activities
    Learning & Teaching Modes
    Psychology IB is comprised of a series of online lectures and learning activities, and a complementary series of interactive face-to-face workshops; both of these components cover a representative range of psychological topics and illustrate some of the various approaches currently employed in psychological research.  Materials in the online learning activities such as videos, interactive “mini-experiments” and formative quizzes support and extend the lecture series. The online lectures, the online learning activities and the interactive workshop content are important and assessable; therefore, you should fully engage with all aspects of the course.
    Workload

    The information below is provided as a guide to assist students in engaging appropriately with the course requirements.

    Online Lectures: 15 hours (5 x 30 min lectures per module)

    Workshops & Tutorials = 15 hours

    Module Assessment Exercises = 30 hours

    Research Participation = 4 hours

    Major Assignment = 36 hours

    LearnSmart = 6 hours

    Online Supplementary Materials = 12 hours

    Weekly Reading = 36 hours

    Tutorial Engagement Tasks = 2 hours



    TOTAL = 156 hours
    Learning Activities Summary
    This course uses a blended or hybrid learning approach, with a mixture of:

    o online lectures, interactive activities, and practice quizzes
    o workshops and tutorials, which include online and face-to-face options.
  • Assessment

    The University's policy on Assessment for Coursework Programs is based on the following four principles:

    1. Assessment must encourage and reinforce learning.
    2. Assessment must enable robust and fair judgements about student performance.
    3. Assessment practices must be fair and equitable to students and give them the opportunity to demonstrate what they have learned.
    4. Assessment must maintain academic standards.

    Assessment Summary

    Assessment Task Assessment Type Weighting Learning Outcome(s)
    Exam Summative 50% 1-4, 6
    Written Research Assignment Summative 30% 1, 2, 3, 5
    Research Participation/Alternative Summative 5% 4
    Tutorial Engagement Tasks Summative 15% 1-4
    Assessment Detail
    Exam: The open-book exam is comprised of multiple-choice questions that test students' understanding and application of content presented in the online lectures and interactive workshops.

    Written Research Assignment: Students critically evaluate a psychological journal article, including considering the ethical conduct of research.

    Research Participation/Alternative: Students have the opportunity to participate in current psychological research.

    Tutorial Engagement Tasks: For each module, students write a summary and personal reflection of a topic and discuss it in class.
    Submission
    o Students must sit the Exam face-to-face during the University's examination period.
    o The Written Research Assignment is submitted online via MyUni.
    o Research Participation can be completed online or face-to-face.
    o The Tutorial Engagement Tasks must be discussed at a live tutorial, either face-to-face or online.
    Course Grading

    Grades for your performance in this course will be awarded in accordance with the following scheme:

    M10 (Coursework Mark Scheme)
    Grade Mark Description
    FNS   Fail No Submission
    F 1-49 Fail
    P 50-64 Pass
    C 65-74 Credit
    D 75-84 Distinction
    HD 85-100 High Distinction
    CN   Continuing
    NFE   No Formal Examination
    RP   Result Pending

    Further details of the grades/results can be obtained from Examinations.

    Grade Descriptors are available which provide a general guide to the standard of work that is expected at each grade level. More information at Assessment for Coursework Programs.

    Final results for this course will be made available through Access Adelaide.

  • Student Feedback

    The University places a high priority on approaches to learning and teaching that enhance the student experience. Feedback is sought from students in a variety of ways including on-going engagement with staff, the use of online discussion boards and the use of Student Experience of Learning and Teaching (SELT) surveys as well as GOS surveys and Program reviews.

    SELTs are an important source of information to inform individual teaching practice, decisions about teaching duties, and course and program curriculum design. They enable the University to assess how effectively its learning environments and teaching practices facilitate student engagement and learning outcomes. Under the current SELT Policy (http://www.adelaide.edu.au/policies/101/) course SELTs are mandated and must be conducted at the conclusion of each term/semester/trimester for every course offering. Feedback on issues raised through course SELT surveys is made available to enrolled students through various resources (e.g. MyUni). In addition aggregated course SELT data is available.

  • Student Support
  • Policies & Guidelines
  • Fraud Awareness

    Students are reminded that in order to maintain the academic integrity of all programs and courses, the university has a zero-tolerance approach to students offering money or significant value goods or services to any staff member who is involved in their teaching or assessment. Students offering lecturers or tutors or professional staff anything more than a small token of appreciation is totally unacceptable, in any circumstances. Staff members are obliged to report all such incidents to their supervisor/manager, who will refer them for action under the university's student’s disciplinary procedures.

The University of Adelaide is committed to regular reviews of the courses and programs it offers to students. The University of Adelaide therefore reserves the right to discontinue or vary programs and courses without notice. Please read the important information contained in the disclaimer.